This thesis presents a qualitative exploratory ethnographic study that examines views of a small number of health care professionals towards Aboriginal mothers at risk for child apprehension within two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) The premise of this study is that various kinds of discrimination and stigma toward Aboriginal mothers in the NICU may 1) contribute to potentially harmful health care experiences for these mothers and 2) manifest in their children being at greater risk for apprehension. The methods of investigation included in-depth qualitative interviews with health care professionals, personal reflective field notes and institutional ethnographic enquiry. These latter two methods stem from my role as an active health care professional within both NICUs. The research was informed by post-colonial theory, feminist theory, intersectionality, and social constructionism of motherhood. Thematic analysis of qualitative data resulted in six main themes. These themes were 1) barriers, 2) policy confusion, 3) judgement, 4) support/empowerment, 5) oppression, and 6) racism. The potential benefits of this study include: fostering dialogues among health care professionals; illuminating views of health care professionals towards Aboriginal mothers; increasing awareness about the vulnerability that exists among Aboriginal mothers, and; providing insight into invisible neo-colonial practices that may adversely impact Aboriginal mothers in NICUs. think of as various 'discourses and social constructions' of motherhood that I believe might be affecting decision making processes about child apprehensions from Aboriginal mothers. By various 'discourse and social constructions,' I mean ways that topics are spoken about, the languages used to converse about Aboriginal mothers and their children, and the institutional norms that have developed (Barker & Conrad, 2010;. Accessing a part of these discourses of motherhood occurred through observing conversations between health care professionals in NICUs. Many of the Aboriginal mothers I have encountered in the NICU were women dealing with low socio-economic status, suffering from addiction: many had also experienced violence at least once in their lives. It has been challenging at times to listen to conversations between health care professionals who do not always demonstrate empathy or understanding for vulnerable mothers in challenging situations affected by broader social determinants of health and systemic injustices. By 'social determinants of health', I mean that historical, cultural, environmental, and political factors have an impact on the health of especially Aboriginal people Priest et al., 2012). Examples of CLIMATE OF NICUs FOR ABORIGINAL MOTHERS 2 social determinants of health include income, housing, nutrition, education, peace, equity, and importantly, colonialism . This means that someone from a lower socio-economic status may have poorer health than someone from a higher socioeconomic status . It also means that Aboriginal peoples' wel...